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Yankees have the need and the deep pockets.Comment -
3:03 pm: Per Nubyjas Wilborn of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Taillon will not throw for “at least” four weeks, with the injury apparently far more severe than originally believed. Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic tweets that Taillon’s MRI showed no UCL damage, though the righty will seek a second opinion next week to confirm.
1:55pm: Per a team release, the Pirates have placed righty Jameson Taillon on the 10-Day IL with a flexor strain in his right elbow and selected the contract of lefty Tyler Lyons from AAA-Indianapolis, among other roster moves.
It’s a concerning injury for Taillon, 27, who joins rotation mate Chris Archer on the injured list for a rotation-thin Pirate club. A 2014 Tommy John knocked the former 2nd overall pick out of action for two full seasons, though he’s been mostly healthy since. The 6’5 righty was off to his usual strong start this year, posting a a solid 88 FIP-/91 xFIP- (numbers right in line with his career figures and season projection) in seven starts for Pittsburgh.
It’s unclear who’ll step in to the vacant slots in the Pittsburgh rotation, though righty Nick Kingham and lefty Steven Brault appear to have the inside tracks. Top prospect Mitch Keller, who’d struggled early with command but has been dominant in his previous two Triple-A outings, is also a candidate.
Lyons, 31, spent six years with St. Louis before inking a minor league deal with Pittsburgh this offseason. His strikeout rate has jumped to over ten per nine in the last two seasons since a full-time move to the bullpen, but the lefty was hit hard in ’18 despite predominant left-on-left usage.Comment -
Back in the ARod, Giambi days. Yankees had deep pocketsComment -
2 rough losses in a row for the Pads, hoping can salvage one this afternoonComment -
Crazy catch by Giants pillar last night to take away a home run.....just wow....Comment -
A pitch to contact guy like Keuchel is a little worrisome in Yankee Stadium but at least he is more of a groundball guyComment -
The Giants offense showing signs of life against Cincinnati this weekend which is just proof that anybody can light up the scoreboard in Great American Smallpark.
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X-rays were negative on Lorenzo Cain’s left hand after the Brewers outfielder was hit by a Tim Peterson pitch during the sixth inning of today’s 3-2 win over the Mets. Cain was removed from the game after his HBP, though told reporters (including MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy) that he is hopeful of playing on Tuesday, when Milwaukee hosts the Nationals. Cain has hit .259/.316/.406 through 158 plate appearances this season, though he has made up for that slow start at the plate with his usual excellent center field defense. It doesn’t seem like this injury will require a DL stint or perhaps even an absence whatsoever, though it’s still worth monitoring, as the Brewers can ill-afford to lose any of their stars amidst a tightly-contested NL Central race.
More from around the National League…
- The Mets have sent Steven Matz back to New York for tests on his left forearm, manager Mickey Callaway told the New York Post’s Mike Puma and other reporters. As per Callaway, Matz has a “nerve issue” and has been dealing with a sore forearm “for about two weeks now.” Matz hasn’t been ruled out of his next scheduled start on Wednesday, though one would think the Mets would sit him out simply as a precautionary measure, given the inherent seriousness of forearm problems. (Callaway noted that Matz’s current injury isn’t related to the elbow procedure he underwent in 2017.) Losing Matz to the IL would be a blow to a New York rotation that has struggled this season, and also just generally been lacking in quality results. Matz has posted a 3.86 ERA, 3.56 K/BB rate, and 8.2 K/9 over 35 innings, and his numbers would look better apart from a singularly disastrous outing on April 16 against the Phillies that saw him allow six earned runs without recording an out.
- In more unfortunate injury news for the Mets, Jason Vargas left today’s game due to tightness in his left hamstring. As Puma notes, Vargas’ spot in the rotation wouldn’t necessarily need to be filled immediately, as the Mets have enough upcoming off-days that a fifth starter isn’t required until May 18. Vargas allowed three runs in four innings today to give him a 5.92 ERA over 24 1/3 frames in what has been a rough beginning for the veteran southpaw.
- The Nationals have yet to receive MRI results on Michael A. Taylor after the outfielder suffered a jammed wrist on Saturday. (MLB.com’s Jamal Collier was among those to report the news.) Taylor already missed some time at the start of the season due to a left knee and hip sprain, and he has yet to get on track — the outfielder has a meager .111/.226/.148 slash line over 32 plate appearances. Despite Taylor’s struggles, Washington can hardly afford to lose any more players to the IL at this point, given that Anthony Rendon, Juan Soto, Trea Turner, Ryan Zimmerman, and Matt Adams are all currently sidelined. Rendon, at least, is expected to return on Tuesday.
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Injuries piling upComment -
CUBS looked good last night again!!!!Comment -
Is there anyone that doesn’t have Cubs #1 in their power rankings right now? Scorching!!!Comment -
What a grand slam by the Padres.Comment -
Sandoval homers, steals, throws blank inning
Pablo Sandoval on Monday became the first major league player since 1905 to hit a home run, steal a base and pitch a scoreless inning in the same game.
Sandoval achieved the feat in the San Francisco Giants' 12-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Monday.
The only other time the feat was achieved, it was also accomplished by a Giants player in a game against the Reds. Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson threw nine shutout innings, hit a homer and stole a base in a victory on May 23, 1905, according to the Elias Sports Bureau's data.Comment -
Twins/Cubs World Series, I’m listening!!Comment -
The Cubs are definitely coming around but that NL central race will be tight all year imo.
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The Athletics will welcome back first baseman Matt Olson tomorrow, according to a report from Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. His activation will likely lead the team to designate Kendrys Morales for assignment, she reports, though that isn’t yet written in stone.
Olson has been working back from a hamate fracture that has sidelined him for most of the season to date. The 25-year-old will look to pick back up where he left off last season, when he launched 28 home runs, slashed .247/.335/.453, and secured a Gold Glove Award.
The A’s could certainly use a boost. Entering play today, the club was stuck in the AL West cellar with a six-game gap separating them from first place.
Oakland had acquired Morales in the wake of Olson’s injury in hopes of avoiding this sort of early hole. A veteran switch-hitter who has mostly featured as a designated hitter in recent years, Morales has been utilized at first base since the A’s already have a full-time DH in Khris Davis.
Unfortunately, that move hasn’t worked out as hoped. Morales carries only a .209/.318/.275 slash with a single home run through 107 plate appearances. That showing is likely to spell the end of his tenure with the A’s, though Slusser adds that it’s possible he could stay on the roster for a few more days if the club elects to option down outfielder Skye Bolt.
It was always going to be tough to carry Morales on a roster with Olson and Davis. Given his lack of production, it’s no surprise to hear that such a move is imminent. It’s still a bit of a tough pill for the Oakland org to swallow, though, having given up some trade resources and taken on salary to add Morales.Comment -
Chris Paddack was dominant last night outdueling Degrom in a 4-0 Padres win. Paddack had 11 ks and gave up 4 hits in 7 2/3 innings. He was noticeably extra fired up with the opportunity to go toe to toe with Degrom.Comment -
Wow just saw the score on the bottom line. 73% StrikesComment -
Angels' Ohtani to make season debut vs. Tigers
The Los Angeles Angels announced that Shohei Ohtani will make his season debut on Tuesday night in Detroit, batting third against the Tigers.
He will be returning just seven months after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Ohtani, the reigning American League Rookie of the Year after finishing 2018 with a .925 OPS and a 3.31 ERA, will boost a lineup that is desperate for protection behind Mike Trout, who leads the majors with 31 walks.
The 24-year-old Ohtani, who will help only as a designated hitter this season, said last week that his timing was "getting better each day" and that he was "a little ahead of schedule" with his rehab.Comment -
wow, madbum pitching for a win...interesting.... maybe he watched pablo yesterday!!Comment
